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Further Workplace Health and Safety bosses will be grilled at the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster today, after a leading inspector admitted he had "no confidence" in the emergency procedures in place on the Thunder River Rapids ride.

Abbott warns of 'faceless men' in cabinet

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the elevation of former union boss Bill Shorten into the cabinet would confirm the "faceless men" are in charge of the government.

Mr Shorten, who helped lever Julia Gillard into the leadership in 2010, on Friday denied knowledge of a ministry reshuffle, as rumours swept Canberra that he would be elevated from his role as assistant treasurer into cabinet.

It's been speculated Attorney-General Robert McClelland, who has held frontbench positions in opposition and government since 1998, would step aside.

The reshuffle rumours come as leadership tension continues between the prime minister, who goes on annual leave at the end of next week, and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney there was "poison" at the heart of the government.

"If the prime minister wants to sort out her dysfunctional government, she has got to get rid of Kevin Rudd, because plainly the two of them can't exist in the same government," he said.

"(And) if Bill Shorten enters the cabinet, that will mean the faceless men are in charge."

Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Friday any changes were "up to the prime minister".

"I'm happy in the current portfolio. I really enjoy being assistant treasurer," he said.

Asked whether he had been involved in any meetings he said: "The prime minister makes these decisions, I'm not aware of any discussions."

Treasurer Wayne Swan declined to say whether any decisions had been made.

"Those are matters which are entirely for the prime minister," he told ABC Radio.

Mr Rudd insists his aim during the past year has been to be an effective foreign minister for the country.

"I think over the last 12 to 18 months I have done that, at least to the best of my ability," he told ABC radio from Rome.

"I'm just getting on with the job."

Mr Rudd said the government needed "all hands to the tiller" as it dealt with the challenges that might spill over from the financial crisis in Europe.

There has been talk of changes to the junior ministry with a question mark about the future of Small Business Minister Nick Sherry.

A spokesman for Senator Sherry said: "Minister Sherry was active in his ministerial duties at (the ALP national) conference, and will continue to be active in his ministerial duties."

A spokesman for the attorney-general said: "Mr McClelland said that reports that he is going to retire are incorrect."

Mr Abbott said the Costello-Howard leadership "tension" during the final years of the coalition government paled in comparison to the Rudd-Gillard relationship.

"They would talk as colleagues about the issues of the day. Plainly, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard don't speak at all," he said.